Bug FAQBlack-headed Sugar Ant
Camponotus nigriceps · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae
Source: Wikipedia
Black-headed sugar ants are medium-sized ants with a black head, reddish-brown body and black abdomen. They live in dry Australian regions, nesting in soil, mounds or under stones, and colonies can reach several thousand workers. These ants forage at night for sweet foods and insects and may enter houses in search of food.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
They have a black head, a reddish-brown middle section and a black rear segment. Workers are mostly brown with lighter patches on the head and middle, darker jaws and either black or brown legs.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Workers and soldiers range from 6 to 12 mm, while males are about 12 mm long. Queens are the largest, measuring about 16 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
They are considered a household pest because they can enter homes at night looking for food.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
Because they forage at night, sealing entry points and removing food sources can help keep them out of homes.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They live in dry areas such as open ground or dry sclerophyll woodland, nesting in soil, large mounds or under stones.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They mainly eat sweet secretions, sugar water, insects and other food found in homes.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Mated queens fly in summer and a colony can contain five to seven thousand individuals.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Nuptial flights are most likely in summer, with queens found in new chambers in January.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to Australia, especially Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
They can be confused with banded sugar ants, which have a darker body and a distinct band around the abdomen.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I keep black-headed sugar ants out of my house?
Seal cracks and gaps and eliminate food sources, especially sweet items, to reduce their nighttime foraging inside.
Source: Wikipedia
When do black-headed sugar ants have their nuptial flights?
They typically have nuptial flights in summer, with queens observed in new chambers in January.
Source: Wikipedia
What do black-headed sugar ants look like?
They have a black head, reddish-brown body and black abdomen; workers are brown with lighter patches and dark mandibles.
Source: Wikipedia
Where are black-headed sugar ants found?
They are native to Australia, especially Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, living in dry open areas and woodlands.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Formicidae)
Eastern Black Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusCan damage your home
Red Imported Fire AntSolenopsis invictaCan sting
American Winter AntPrenolepis imparis
Argentine AntLinepithema humileNuisance, not dangerous
Immigrant Pavement AntTetramorium immigransCan sting
Odorous House AntTapinoma sessileCan damage your homeSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-headed_sugar_ant
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Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.